The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-27

little, if any, higher than now at retail
Her cattle in 1882 were worth $4,000
600; now they are only $70O00O00. This
has been mainly due from neglect by for
mer lawmakers to give needed legislation
to promote and encourage this great state
industry. Gov. Ross recommended, in
his late message, legislation, and a bill
has been carefully prepared and will no
doubt receive careful consideration
by the present legislature. We know calls
are numerous for laws making appro-
priations, but the meagre sum called for IN
this bill is mere bagatelle in consldera-
ton of the grand results to the stock in
terests of the state, and in the movements
to the northwestern markets this spring
would add in value more than one dollar
per head to the outgoing cattle. This
would give back to the state twenty
times the appropriation. Colonel >. r.
Cunningham, the Texas agent or the
United States department of agriculture
and live stock interests, approves this
measure, and says, by prompt action now
Texas can regain much she has lOsI III bhe
past and prevent continuance OF the dis
ordinations existing against Texas cat
tie. He is undoubtedly well posted on
this subject, and has spont his entire
time in tho past two years to relieve the
traffic in Texas cattle of its burden. His
success has been the theme of universal
com ment among the COW men and press
OF tho country.
The passage of this bill creating a sani-
tary board for protection to the cattle OF
Texas, profits not only the Texas ranch
men, but il comes homo to the farmer who
has his few head Of cattle, and it touches
the town people who have their dairy
COWS to care for. One thing is to be re-
membered; if pleuro- pneumonia should
once be known in Texas, then would its
cattle interests be ruined beyond redenp-
ton. We are to-day FREQ Of 1t, and 1t
is sincerely hoped that our present legisla
ture will act and do so promptly, and
with spirit that our whole people may
feel confidence. Without prompt action
they turn deaf ears to tho great want Of
the greatest industry OF Texas.
CONTESTED ELECTIONS.
There are several cases OF contested ell
ections pending before the legislature,
and of them, so far, but one has been con-
sidered-that of Thompson VS.. Bassett,
from Grimes county-and it is long way
from being concluded. The house commit
tee on elections yesterday afternoon met
and postponed consideration of the Penn
Showalter case from Webb county until
to-morrow week, and ordered the ballot
boxes from Starr county to be brought to
Austin.
In the Thompson Bassett contest the
hn
ant before the committee, shows con
clusively that over one hundred fraudu-
lent votes were polled for the republican
ticket, and tho presumption exists that
they voted for the contested, Bass5tt,
from the fact that they were all negro
votes, and the negroes. at this par.
ticular election, voted the republi
can ticket solidly. The further
fact has been shown by the testimony
that many Of these fraudulent voters
we're to have boon seen working ut the
polls for the republican ticket. There Is
sufficient evidence before the committee
60 uusoat Bassett. It may be necessary,
however, to send for the boxes where the
frauds were perpetrated in order
to ascertain if all of the fraudulent
votes cast, were given for kBassett.
II may be that Bassett will be unseated
and the election referred back to the PEG
pie of Grimes county to settle the quea-
tion, if the committee does not report III
favor of Mr., Thompson.
In speaking of this case yesterday, the
STArEsMAN mentioned Major Stewart as
OF counsel for contestant, when with pro
verbal persistence, the devil got hold OF
the revised edition box and made him
counsel for defendant.